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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

I have never seen my bunny shed until now. she doesn't shed everywhere, but only her back/ tail area fur. she sheds Quite a lot, but not every day... sometimes when i try to pick fur out , plenty of fur goes on my hands. I don't know if this is normal or not but if it is, what can I do?

* Note : I do try to groom her as much as I can ( 1 to 2 times a week ) but at times no fur comes out, even when she is shedding!

Thank You ! (:

lindsay715NJ, USA

149 posts

10/18/2012 12:34 PM

It's normal! Rabbits usually have a couple phases a year where they shed a lot (or "molt"). My dwarf sheds a lot more than my Polish, and his fur always starts coming out first in the area that you describe - around his tail and his back. The best thing you can do is continue having grooming sessions, and sometimes even plucking sessions if big tufts of fur are coming out. It is really important to remove hair from a rabbit that is shedding heavily. Otherwise there is a chance that they can ingest enough fur that it becomes a danger to their health - as they cannot cough up the accumulated fur like cats.

So just keep on getting that fur out when you can

Memarie

93 posts

10/18/2012 1:30 PM

Like Lindsay said, that's totally normal! Rabbits will go through a molt every few months. I used to "pluck" my lop bunny since it was easier and more effective then brushing her. You want to brush all the fur away to avoid stomach blockages.

On that note, I read that there are certain foods that help a rabbit digest/breakdown any fur they consume. I used to give papaya tablets during my bunny's molts as a preventative measure (like the kind they sell in the BB store). She loved them! It made grooming her during her molts a lot easier, haha.

LoveChaChaRabbit Warren

6580 posts

10/18/2012 1:56 PM

Very very normal. When I pluck my girl's fur, there is already hair growing back underneath! So that is normal as well and nothing to be scared of. I agree with Memarie, make sure that you continuously feed your bunny something like hay. Hay pushes the fur they ingest through the digestive system.

jerseygirlAustralia

15025 posts

10/18/2012 2:15 PM

From your profile your bunny was only born this year so it's normal you haven't seen shedding until now.

She is adorable! We need to see more pictures.

Whoever says "It's only a rabbit" has obviously never loved a rabbit.

lindsay715NJ, USA

149 posts

10/18/2012 2:23 PM

Yes! More pictures!

buffybunlover98

58 posts

10/18/2012 4:35 PM

hi guys (: thanks soo much for your help, I sort of am relaxed now since i found out it's normal that she's shedding like this i am grooming her as much as much as I can and I also pluck out fur too. I always make sure that she gets tons and tons of hay (:

Memarie: Where would you find the papaya tablets beside the BB store?

and quick question... : is it ok if i use a "human" hair comb for my bunny and also a dog/cat grooming mit? what are cheap grooming supplies I can get ? i use the hair buster comb but i just wanna see if there are more cheaper supplies i can use.

more pictures comin' (:

buffybunlover98

58 posts

10/18/2012 4:35 PM

hi guys (:
thanks soo much for your help, I sort of am relaxed now since i found out it's normal that she's shedding like this i am grooming her as much as much as I can and I also pluck out fur too. I always make sure that she gets tons and tons of hay (:

Memarie: Where would you find the papaya tablets beside the BB store?

and quick question... : is it ok if i use a "human" hair comb for my bunny and also a dog/cat grooming mit? what are cheap grooming supplies I can get ?

pictures are on my profile ! (:

Memarie

93 posts

10/18/2012 5:47 PM

That same brand of papaya tablets I see everywhere so they shouldn't be hard to find. I'm not sure where you are from, but I'm Canadian and I see them at places like Petland, Petsmart, PetValue, Petcetera, etc (lol these businesses should get more creative with their names). Also, at last here anyways, the price differs dramatically depending on where you go.

buffybunlover98

58 posts

10/18/2012 5:57 PM

okay, thanks ! i don't have any of these stores here where i live ( I'm Canadian too ! )

Memarie

93 posts

10/18/2012 6:10 PM

Haha really?? I named all the big chains too... Well, it's a fairly common item so hopefully it shouldn't be too hard for you to track down.

Malp_15British Columbia, Canada

601 posts

10/19/2012 1:33 PM

hmmm... if you don't have any of the big chains, then you could talk to one of your locally run stores and see if they can order it from their suppliers? Even if they don't carry it normally, their suppliers shoud because its a pretty common oxbow product. Oxbow has a new line of suppliments too, and they have a "Digestive" one that you could try if you can find it/order it.

P.S. I'm loving all the Canadians joining the forum!

Malp_15British Columbia, Canada

601 posts

10/19/2012 1:34 PM

Oh! you could talk to your vet too! Most vet suppliers carry almost the whole Oxbow line!

buffybunlover98

58 posts

10/19/2012 4:17 PM

Malp_15 : great idea! I will try to drop by my local pet store to see if they sell papaya tablets; but i'm pretty sure i'll have to ask them to order them because they'll probably not have them... the last time i went to the vet they talked to me about those papaya tablets but they were all sold out over there

Thanks for the help !!!

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